My mom was recently diagnosticated as high cholesterol, I am in trouble because I know little about high cholesterol foods, she really loves sweets and pastries but now I have to help her in balancing sweets and foods though I always bake something for her. Do you know if there are any alternatives of pastries which are safe for her???

Reducing dietary cholesterol (from foods) will have little effect on elevated cholesterol levels in the blood stream. Having a "high" cholesterol number doesn't mean much unless you also factor in what kind of cholesterol is being referred to (HDL / LDL), the "fluffiness" of the LDL particles and most importantly the triglyceride/HDL ratio. All of that information needs to be looked at together for an accurate picture.

There is a ton of new information out there regarding cholesterol, fat consumption in general, how our bodies try to regulate insulin and just how detrimental it is to have an irregular insulin response. Hope your search in finding ways to help your Mother become more healthy is a successful one!

jeesh, I'm having formatting issues today! I would look into using a sugar substitute (sugar alcohols) to use when making her some Christmas treats. I hear about xylitol or erythitol + stevia blends most often. I don't personally use them, but hear good things about them for those who do.

__________________ ~~ZerehWe are fed by a food industry which pays no attention to health, and healed by a health industry that pays no attention to food - Wendell Berry

I'm a long time coronary heart disease patient. Recently my cardiologist told me that the American Heart Association stopped recommending the treatment of high cholesterol. He still has me on a statin but he says it helps prevent new heart attacks. He says the cholesterol level isn't that important and ended my annual heart blood panel.

If you are of normal weight then you are doing what is good for your heart in terms of diet. If you are overweight then you should cut back your intake.

I'm a long time coronary heart disease patient. Recently my cardiologist told me that the American Heart Association stopped recommending the treatment of high cholesterol. He still has me on a statin but he says it helps prevent new heart attacks. He says the cholesterol level isn't that important and ended my annual heart blood panel.

If you are of normal weight then you are doing what is good for your heart in terms of diet. If you are overweight then you should cut back your intake.

This interests me. My old-school doc keeps trying to put me on statins. I keep refusing. I pointed out that statins cause diabetes in post- menopausal women. He still disagrees. Medicine is a business. The more you're on, the more money they make.

I don't know about that, Dawg. Many doctors are in practices where they earn a salary. They don't make extra money on procedures or lab tests and it's unethical, if not illegal, for them to accept money to prescribe drugs.

I'm glad I live in an area with a medical school. All my doctors are on the faculty; they do research and teach medical students and residents, as well as patient care, so they're always up on the latest recommendations.

__________________Anyplace where people argue about food is a good place.
~ Anthony Bourdain, Parts Unknown, 2018

I don't know about that, Dawg. Many doctors are in practices where they earn a salary. They don't make extra money on procedures or lab tests and it's unethical, if not illegal, for them to accept money to prescribe drugs.

I'm glad I live in an area with a medical school. All my doctors are on the faculty; they do research and teach medical students and residents, as well as patient care, so they're always up on the latest recommendations.

I have a feeling that some of the older docs don't keep up with the latest medical research. Though in my little home town, the docs were family friends, and even made house calls!